Game Journal: Dec 2025
A list of games I played on my PC, Steam Deck, Switch 2 or PS5 in December with 2-3 line comments
Every month I collate the games I played that are new to me, or I haven’t played in a long time and revisited.
Good Game Lobby Gaming Club
As part of Good Game Lobby Monthly Gaming Club we were playing Ori and the Blind Forest. I did not mention it as I got stuck the second time around and then did not play that much. But it is a beautiful and difficult game. The platforming challenges are tricky but feel great when you get into it.
Over the next few months we are playing Deltarune and Cult of the Lamb. Join us if you fancy playing along or just want to chat games in general.
Side note as I mentioned it in the last journal post, I played a LOT of cult of the lamb this month. I am now ready for the Woolhaven DLC in January!
Neva
Experience the moving tale of a young woman and her lifelong bond with a magnificent wolf as they embark on a thrilling adventure through a rapidly dying world.
I played this on my steam deck OLED and while it played well it needs a big screen. it is a visually stunning piece of art with a great story about friendship and persevering in the face of discomfort and struggle.
You can read a little more here.
Crypt Custodian
Crypt Custodian is a charming metroidvania about cleaning up the afterlife. Play as Pluto - a mischievous cat who has died, and is sentenced to be the afterworld's janitor... FOREVER! Hang out with other doomed ghosts, battle beasts, and explore a vastly expansive landscape.
I finally played this game. I am now up to date with Kyle’s games and really looking forward to the next one he has announced. I had a lot of fun with this game and thought it was well thought out and worked well. The exploration was really well done and I enjoyed the little puzzles. Kyle makes great metroidvanias which are the perfect way to introduce yourselves to the genre if it is new to you.
The Witcher 3
You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.
I have finally started this big game. It has been on my backlog for a while and I really wanted to play it this year. Initially I was beating myself up for starting it instead of finishing Zelda but the gaming heart wants what the gaming heart wants. I am finding all the menus a bit overwhelming but I am only a few hours in. I hope I get through a decent amount before Woolhaven later in January.
What did you play in December? What’s the first thing you will play in Jan 2026? Also happy new year! :D
I decided to attempt Dark Souls, though Witcher 3 is also waiting for me.. To my surprise, I kind of love it. I was worried it would feel impossibly hard, but although it’s tough it is do-able. I mean, I make progress slowly, but I do make progress! And I think because I’m not a very “good” gamer, I always expect to die lots regardless, so the infamous “You Died” screen doesn’t put me off. Anyway, I’m really enjoying the world, the artwork, the exploration, and the sense of achievement with each small step of progress.
For The Witcher 3, I'm in the same position - I have this and Tears of the Kingdom both incomplete, so don't feel bad at all!
I was also overwhelmed with the menus and more precise RPG parts, because they are deep. I read an article once though that suggested just to play it in the way you want to, go as deep into the roleplaying as makes you feel comfortable.
For example, I couldn't care less about attaching an item to a sword for +1% boost in a stat I've never heard of, and I never play Gwent. What I do love though are the story and thousands of side quests, and how they are all well written and sometimes dovetail together in ways you never expected. I especially like the quests where I thought I was doing the "right", good thing, then the quest would pivot and showed a different outcome than I wanted because of my actions; even the small quests can show a deeper humanity that really makes me think.
All this is saying... I really should go back to The Witcher 3 soon 😄